style.com: TRIAS Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear review

Joaquín Trías has been exploring the relationship between nature and technology for a few seasons now, and the study has led him to new, next-generation fabrics created with a mercurial climate in mind. But materials produced in a lab needn’t look like they should be worn in one, and Trías has worked to strike a balance. For Fall, he approached his sweet spot.

“It’s not as strict this season,” the designer said during his presentation. “It’s our understanding of luxury; it doesn’t have to be pretentious.” Far from it. In addition to his technical fabrics, Trías worked with wool, spinning it into oversize sweater coats and dense layering cardigans. One in mossy brown had deep pockets; wide, rolled sleeves; and single pleats swooping in from the back to create volume. It was worn over a mid-calf skirt with a knee-high center slit in what looked like silk. It was actually one of Trías’ tech fabrics, developed in Japan. Breathable, stain-repellent, and UV ray-deflecting, it was soft to the touch and crinkled just-so. In that mid-calf length we’ve been hearing so much about of late, it might be the most versatile piece you could add to your wardrobe.